Library

"Ding-dong..."

Early morning, the doorbell rang.

You En opened the door. Horikita Suzune, now changed into casual clothes, lifted her head slightly. She carried a pure white canvas bag, radiating a youthful, charming aura, along with a faint, pleasant scent.

"What body wash are you using that smells so nice?"

Horikita Suzune leaned in, as if taking a sniff, then met You En's gaze.

"The same one as you."

"Does the free body wash really have this scent? I never noticed it."

You En raised his own arm and sniffed.

Horikita Suzune explained to him with the logic of a science student.

"Probably because you're used to your own smell, so you're more sensitive to it on me."

"Oh, is that so?"

You En was ready now too. "So, shall we head out now?"

Horikita Suzune said, "I've brought the books we'll need."

But she stood at the door, her gaze fixed on the interior of the room.

You En caught this and smiled.

"Curious about what a guy's dorm looks like?"

"It's not that..."

Horikita Suzune just wanted to see what kind of environment this boy in front of her usually lived in. She had no interest in other boys.

You En stepped aside, clearing the entrance hallway.

"Please, come in. Welcome to my humble abode, Suzune."

Horikita Suzune brushed a strand of hair with her right hand. "I'm not that eager to go in... but since you're asking me to, I suppose I'll take a look."

You En really wanted to say that tsundere was out of style, but he was afraid of getting hit, so he held back the jab.

Horikita Suzune stepped into the room. It was very tidy, clearly cleaned often.

There was nothing messy or cluttered; everything was neatly arranged.

In fact, it looked exactly like the room's initial setup from the school—nothing had been added, and nothing had been moved. It was like a brand-new room.

Horikita Suzune walked over to You En's desk. On it, besides the school-provided desk lamp, there was only a matching complimentary mug, which held cold, boiled water.

She couldn't help but wonder: what did he do in this room every day after school? In an environment like this, didn't he feel lonely?

You En came over and saw Horikita Suzune staring blankly at the desk.

"Does it feel boring?"

Horikita Suzune shook her head. The desk looked like a blank book, but it wasn't without content. She could vaguely sense a foundation completely different from her own.

She just couldn't figure out what it was yet.

She asked, "In an environment like this, don't you feel lonely?"

You En thought for a moment, not answering immediately.

If he had points, he might buy some manga, or favorite novels, or games to put here.

If he didn't, that was fine too. An empty room was also great for thinking—both were a kind of enjoyment.

He looked at Horikita Suzune. "Isn't it not lonely now that you're here?"

Horikita Suzune turned her head, ignoring this remark.

"Alright, enough with the strange talk. If we're going to study, we need to hurry over. The library will be crowded on a day off, so we have to save seats."

The two of them left the dorm together.

But they ran into Ike Kanji, a classmate. Since they weren't close, they didn't greet him. Or maybe it was because he'd had a falling out with his friends today, making things awkward, so they just passed by each other.

"Hey, are you two heading to the library too?"

Ichinose appeared, followed by a group of Class B students.

"Hello there, Ichinose. Are you guys having a study session?"

Ichinose Honami hummed in agreement. "Yeah, the courses in this school are pretty tough, so we thought we'd study together to reinforce what we've learned."

Tough?

You En thought that both the course design and the teachers' expertise were excellent. The material progressed step by step, from easy to hard, allowing each person's limit of talent and effort to show in a single subject.

Ichinose had ranked first in all entrance tests. Sure, some people might have held back a little, but that didn't change the fact that her first place was solid. If she didn't make any mistakes, she could basically get perfect scores in every subject.

So, her words were essentially just to take care of her classmates.

She didn't want them to think, "Maybe I'm wasting Ichinose's time." Little Fatty Bo was truly a little angel.

"Hi there, kind and lovely Tsunemi Yumi, Ando Sayo, Amikura Mako. Hello to you all."

You En looked behind her and smiled, greeting a few of the girls who had fed him yesterday, earning a batch of blushing little cuties in return.

Ichinose teased him jokingly, "You En-kun, you're not allowed to bully the other girls in our class."

"I'm not, just ask them if you don't believe me..."

You En felt someone beside him growing a bit impatient.

"But it looks like you're still waiting for people, so we'll head off first."

Ichinose glanced at Horikita Suzune, as if she understood something, and waved her hand.

"Bye-bye, hope you have a great day today."

After You En left, Kanzaki Ryuji walked over.

"That guy just now was from Class D?"

Ichinose was confirming which classmates hadn't gathered yet and hurriedly contacting them. Hearing someone speak, she looked up and asked, "Huh? Kanzaki-kun? Sorry, I didn't catch that just now. Could you say it again?"

Kanzaki gave a serious suggestion.

"Right now, the intel is that in this school, only one class per grade can graduate. All other classes are rivals.

As a class leader, you should have your own considerations, and it's best to tell the classmates not to get too deeply involved with people from other classes."

"Mm, thanks for the reminder, but Kanzaki-kun..."

Ichinose said.

Kanzaki pushed up his glasses. "But what?"

Ichinose Honami smiled. "I think he's probably not a bad person. Everyone else probably feels the same way, which is why they get close to him. Besides, Hoshinomiya-sensei told me to interact with him more."

"Hoshinomiya-sensei's advice?"

Kanzaki pinched his furrowed brow.

"Why would it be Class D? If it were Class A, I could barely accept it."

Ichinose Honami said, "I know you're probably annoyed by Class C's antics, but Class D hasn't provoked us yet, and only a small part of Class C is really troublesome. We're all schoolmates here, no need for such hostility.

Also, don't assume classes are ranked by ability, and try not to look down on them."

Kanzaki grunted in acknowledgment, but he didn't really take it to heart. He had his own thoughts, though he respected Ichinose as a leader who could unite the whole class.

Library, You En and Horikita Suzune swiped their Student Terminals to enter, went to a study room on the third floor with few people, found a spot, and sat down facing each other.

Horikita Suzune took out her books and glanced at You En, who stood empty-handed.

"Where's your book?"

"I'll go borrow it now. I looked it up last night."

You En went to the reception desk on the third floor. It was a small room with only a window, no lights on inside, pitch dark, and he only heard the sound of pages turning.

"Hey, hello?"

"...You want to borrow a book?... A new student?"

A voice on the verge of exhaustion, barely audible, androgynous in tone.

"Yes."

"New students borrow books... go to the first floor. Your book repository is there. Use that glowing screen to operate it."

"Thanks."

"No problem..."

The figure inside the room seemed to glance behind him through the window.

"You—don't wander around. If not for someone protecting you, you'd have died several times already."

You En didn't understand that sentence at all.

"What?"

"Wasn't talking to you... Go borrow your book."

The figure said, then pulled the curtain shut.

You En could only go to the first floor. The words just now were baffling. He hadn't wandered around at all; he'd been perfectly normal. Why was he being warned?

And... someone was protecting him? What did that mean?

What exactly did this "you" and "him" refer to?

Couldn't figure it out. He'd think about it later. Leave it to future him—that was the wisdom of the one who comes after.

You En emptied his mind, focused on the present, and found a Student Terminal in front of a massive pillar at the center of the first floor.

"Electronic borrowing?"

He looked up the books he needed and entered the corresponding numbers.

"Wilderness Survival Encyclopedia—In-library: 0 points, Borrow: 20 points/day (New Students)"

You En glanced at it. New students even got a discount. Normally, borrowing a book from outside cost at least 100 points per day, but this semester it started at just 20 points. Pretty cheap.

For now, he borrowed three books. Besides Wilderness Survival Encyclopedia, there was also Ocean Knowledge for Beginners and Quick Identification Guide to Common Wild Fruits and Herbs.

[Student You En, your book borrowing request has been approved. Please pick up your books at Counter 3. Note: Return them promptly before leaving the library, or corresponding personal points will be deducted.]

You En looked at the central pillar. Every so often, there was a number, and beneath each number, a window. The automatic door of the window opened, revealing three books standing upright inside.

"Pretty interesting. Is this smart management?"

You En's respect for this school rose another notch.

"You're borrowing these books?"

Horikita Suzune looked at You En. "Are you already familiar with the curriculum?"

"Isn't that what you're here for? Let me take advantage of you. Once you finish reviewing and have your notes ready, I'll just take a look."

Horikita Suzune thought it was fine. If he was willing to study, that was good. She put a little more care into organizing her notes.

The two of them said nothing, heads down, studying and organizing the knowledge in their hands. It was peaceful, and there was a certain unspoken understanding.

After flipping through one book, You En felt something strange.

He seemed to have remembered and understood everything... After all, the books he'd picked were all introductory texts, nothing too complicated.

"Suzune... Suzune..."

You En called out softly.

Horikita Suzune looked up, her hair strands brushing straight across the desk.

"What's wrong?"

"Test me? I feel like I remembered everything after just one read. Not sure if it's an illusion."

"Alright."

Horikita Suzune took the book, first carefully read a few pages, then asked a few questions. The more she asked, the more surprised she became.

"This book... Did you memorize it in advance?"

"No. Do you think I have the points to borrow books?"

Even as he said this, he actually had the 500-point fortune he'd squeezed out of Ayanokoji.

"Let me ask a few more."

Horikita Suzune asked a few more questions. He could recite everything verbatim, explain his understanding, and even remember the page numbers.

She handed the book back, unable to calm down for a long time. She wasn't discouraged...

Because when someone is too far ahead of you, you don't feel that sense of defeat or jealousy. They're simply not in the same dimension.

You En sighed again.

"This is the real value of Hoshinomiya-sensei."

"Hoshinomiya-sensei...?"

Horikita Suzune looked puzzled.

"What does that have to do with Class B's homeroom teacher?"

You En briefly told her about that treatment session, as well as his state and experiences over the past few days.

Horikita Suzune thought for a moment.

"I won't say whether this is real or not for now. But if it is... this is practically magic."

"Maybe it really is some kind of magic."

You En suddenly suggested, "How about we transfer classes?"

"Huh?!"

The black-haired girl let out a confused and adorable exclamation.

Realizing her lapse, she covered her mouth, then shot You En a glare.

"Forget it. Don't tell me stories to mess with me. We need to keep studying."

"Oh."

You En opened his terminal and checked his personal panel.

Aside from the original, "Language Lv2 (Professional)" "Creation Lv3 (Master)" "Communication Lv2 (Professional)" "Test-Taking Lv2 (Professional)"

Over these days, he had started learning, "Swimming Lv1 (Proficient)" "Diving Lv1 (Proficient)" "Knots Lv1 (Proficient)" "Hunting Lv0 (Beginner)" "Gathering Lv0 (Beginner)"

And just now, three had instantly entered the threshold, namely:

"Marine Meteorology lv0 (Entry)" "Channel Surveying lv0 (Entry)" "Herbal Identification lv0 (Entry)"

These skills had their theoretical parts grasped, but they likely lacked practice, so they weren't yet proficient. Still, with a bit of training, they should improve quickly.

This state—who knew how long it would last. Might as well keep studying.

You En planned to make the most of this time and put in a little effort. After finishing these books, he'd head downstairs to return them and borrow a few more.

As You En stood up and left, Horikita Suzune looked up and glanced at him, feeling she needed to step up her game. She finally understood what a true genius looked like.

"You're here to borrow books too?"

While returning his books, You En suddenly heard a soft, sweet voice.

He turned, shifting his gaze slightly, and noticed a petite girl with silky silver hair and big purple eyes—very cute.

"Hiyori-san?"

Shiina Hiyori was slightly surprised. "Eh, you know me?"

You En couldn't exactly say he'd called her "wife" in a past life, so he just replied, "I've heard of you."

Shiina Hiyori was sharp-minded and observant. She felt that statement was a lie, but she didn't press further.

"What kind of books are you reading?"

"Just some introductory professional books. You probably wouldn't like them."

Shiina Hiyori found the tone of his words a bit odd. He said she wouldn't like these books, not in the sense of "a girl might not like them," but as a roundabout way of saying he thought she specifically wouldn't.

That was strange. They'd only just met, so how could he already know something about her?

Shiina Hiyori decided to probe a little more, so she spoke up, "Then let me give it a try... Although I'm really not that inclined to read such specialized books, as long as it's a book, I can get through it."

"Then you can borrow them yourself."

You En continued returning books, not thinking to hand them directly to her.

"Alright, um... classmate,"

Shiina Hiyori said, "I still don't know your name."

"You En."

"Okay, my name is Shiina Hiyori,"

Shiina Hiyori said with a gentle, serene smile.

"You En-kun, this time it's not just hearing about you—we've met face to face."

After a brief chat, You En felt she was testing him, so he proactively ended the conversation. He'd let his guard down a bit during those first few exchanges, and she might have picked up on something. No matter—he'd just be more careful from now on.

Shiina Hiyori checked out the books You En had returned. Staring at those thick, brick-like professional tomes, she fell into thought.

Was she supposed to sacrifice her novel-reading time to finish these books?

She really didn't want to.

But she felt there was something slightly off about that guy just now... Oh well, she'd try reading them in her spare time.

Shiina walked along, hugging the books. If things developed like in a mystery novel, she might end up thanking herself for this decision today.

"How could that be?"

She thought her imagination was running a bit wild.

And let it go with a smile.